Gordon Yeh, CEO of Taiwan’s second-largest optical-disc maker, Ritek, stated global demand for DVD+R/-R discs will grow to 3.8 billion discs in 2005, while supply may only rise to 3.6 billion discs, based on projections made by the Japanese research firm Fujiwara-Rothchild

Yeh also indicated that Taiwan makers of DVD+R/-R discs are more optimistic, and project global demand to reach 4.5 million discs.

This year, global supply is expected to reach 3.0 billion DVD+R/-R discs, outpacing demand for up to 2.5 billion discs, Yeh pointed out. However, decreases in the OEM prices of DVD discs and a global shortage of key component polycarbonate (PC) have caused a general slowdown in capacity expansion, so total capacity is expected to increase 10-20% next year, reaching 3.3-3.6 billion DVD+R/-R discs, Yeh noted.

Next year, demand will grow the fastest for 16x DVD+R/-R discs, on rapidly growing demand for 16x DVD burners, Yeh predicted. Demand for 16x DVD+R/-R discs will account for 30% of total DVD-disc demand next year, up from 10% this year, Yeh added.